Nice article about JK at a MA town caucus (Arlington!)

[Luftmensch067]

I was so disappointed that I couldn't go to the ones in my town yesterday because I had to be elsewhere, but I'm relieved that at least I didn't miss JK...although it seems he was very close by!

Then again, knowing him, he might have managed to visit every town caucus in Massachusetts at the same time yesterday!!!!

Here's the writeup of his Arlington visit: http://centristcoalition.com/aboutdemocrats/archives/002924.html

(I thought this was kind of a sweet, positive story -- worth going to read the whole thing at the above link!)

I spoke to Kerry for a couple of minutes. I asked him if there was a disconnect between bloggers and other grassroots activists and Democratic elected officials--that it sometimes seemed like Democratic officials would take one position, and that opposition would percolate in the activist community until it came to a boil. He said that communication was instantaneous these days, but if Democrats were not proactive, it was because they did not control any branches of the federal government, and cannot not set the agenda of what gets taken up. "If we can win one house, we will be co-partners in the agenda," Kerry said.

Now that Kerry is blogging, I asked him how he was as a typist. Kerry said, "I'm good. Two fingers, but I can do it pretty fast."

[beachmom]

1. Hunting and pecking, eh?

That is too funny, and adds a visual to our tumultuous last week. Thanks for the story -- that's pretty cool that he just showed up randomly to one of these things. Once again, you folks are lucky in Mass.! Well, except for the cold and the snow. :)

[ProSense]

2. Very nice. Thanks for posting. Favorite part

"I'm good. Two fingers, but I can do it pretty fast."

[MH1]

6. Hee hee. Mine too.

I even posted a comment about this article over at MyDD - they really need pro-Kerry people over there, btw - to a post that asked if anyone had reports about MA caucuses (TayTay, you should chime in over there, I'm sure they'd love to hear from you).

Link to the story (my comment is #2) -
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/2/4/165037/2561

I snarked about the typing, but hey it's MyDD (that's the climate), and I really do think it's funny. I've worked in IT for many years and only fairly recently started touch-typing myself, so I can really relate. Seriously, somebody send JK a typing tutorial program!

[Luftmensch067]

8. Having been able to touch type since I was in junior high

and believing,as I have for some years, that I sustained repetitive strain injuries from too much computer work as a partial result, I think it might be safer to hunt and peck!

Since I am on the computer all day at work, I consciously try to slow down and stay aware of using both hands equally and not typing too adeptly -- so I hope he never learns! LOL!

[TayTay]

3. Now I'm wicked psyched about the DemCon in Worcester.

When I arrived at town hall in Arlington, Mass. to cover today's Massachusetts Democratic Party caucuses, I spotted an unexpected attendee, Sen. John Kerry. Caucuses are held every four years in which Democrats select delegates to a state convention. Candidates must be supported by at least 15 percent of the delegates at the convention in order to get on the primary ballot. It's also a way for candidates to show strength and build momentum.

Oh, thanks for this! I had a feeling my greatly esteemed* Senator would show up and help his fellow Dems to caucus. (He doesn't need to be at his caucus in Boston. He is, of course, an ex officio delegate to the Con.) We are going to have such a good time in Worcester in June. This is where Sen. Kerry can give a really, really partisan 'red-meat' speech to the home-town folks. I will try and see if I can get some writing done in here at that time. We shall see. (Stodgy old DemParty. We shall see if they allow any 'bloggin' from the floor.)

Of course he got a standing O. We luvs him here. He is a good Dem. :loveya: Hey Senator, me and 5,600 of my closest friends will be there with you. (Yeah, there are 5,600 convention attendees. The Mass Dem con is something like the 3rd or 4th largest in the nation. Everytime they try to cut down on the number of delegates, they piss off the grassroots. So, this will be a rollicking good time. I wonder if Sen. Kerry will host a party this year or is he will defer to Teddy K. JK didn't show last year at all, but I know he will go this year. It should be fun!)

* I am no longer going to refer to Sen. Kerry as my Jr. Senator. It just doesn't fit. He has more seniority and brains than most of the Senators now serving and I hate that Jr. thing. I'm boycotting it.

[Luftmensch067]

4. How 'bout the Tall Senator?

No offense intended to Teddy -- he's the Leonine Senator :-) :-)

I'm wicked psyched, too -- you are going to be a fantastic blogger for us, come June!

[TayTay]

5. I had a great time last year

and tht was just an 'issues' convention. (Translation: not everyone who was voted in as a delegate showed up.) I did see Uncle Ted, ahm, dance and I saw Howard Dean give a speech.



Dr. Dean rouses the MassDems and reminds them of how unwise it is for Democrats to have such partican and bitter primaries that they destroy their chances at winning, oh say Governships after the primaries are over. Sigh!



Sen. Ted Kennedy soaks up the love! (He sort of twirled around when the sound systems played 'Still the One!' Even Vicki Kennedy, his wife, sort of stayed out of that one. "Hello, Massachusetts Democrats!" "Hello Senator Kennedy! We Love you!" That was a fun convention.

These are my photos from being there. Middle section about 12 rows back from the stage.

[Luftmensch067]

7. Love the pix!

Especially the one of Teddy! He looks so handsome! I'm trying to imagine how that twirling around worked... :-)

You're convincing me to think seriously about being a delegate sometime!!!

[Mass]

9. Another account of the same event

http://chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/2006/02/john-kerry-in-menotomy.html

John Kerry in Menotomy:
Much to Humble Elias' surprise, our Junior Senator showed up at the local caucus yesterday to make a few introductory remarks. He struck, for the most part a truculent populist tone praised the Local Town Committee and made the necessary argument that the strong efforts of the past will yield victories in the future.
To a crowd that hoped to be yet washing JK's inaugural confetti out of their hair it was a hard sell to say the least.
But he made it, and Kerry deserves credit for making the effort.
If John Kerry has an Imperial Guard, it was Town Hall yesterday, these are his Spartans. They made something akin to 25,000 phone calls on his behalf to New Hampshire in 2004, they flooded the "Arc of Destiny" from Nashua to Manchester from November 2003 to November 2004...they got the vote out.
They have their bona fides and can rightly boast that they helped switch NH to the democrats in 2004.
Imagine what they can do in Massachusetts in 2006?
So hell yes, John Kerry came to say thank you...Napoleon kissed his Imperial Guardsmen, Kerry shook hands and listened to all comers. Deval Patrick was there as well, as was Mike Festa and (so I was told) Tim Murray. These are the people the candidates need to convince to win the primary and then go out and work like New York Cab Drivers in a blizzard.
Otherwise it was good to see JK Playing to the base, don't know what the plan is, but it is a wise move for him to get out there ad keep things agitated. As long as you don't act like you are beaten, then you ain't beat.

[_dynamicdems]

10. Nice find! Thanks for posting. n/t

[jenndar]

11. Aw, that was nice to read.

Comments were positive, too. :)

[whometense]

12. Chimes at Midnight was there too

http://www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/http://chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/2006/02/john-kerry-in-menotomy.html

Sunday, February 05, 2006

John Kerry in Menotomy:

Much to Humble Elias' surprise, our Junior Senator showed up at the local caucus yesterday to make a few introductory remarks. He struck, for the most part a truculent populist tone praised the Local Town Committee and made the necessary argument that the strong efforts of the past will yield victories in the future.
To a crowd that hoped to be yet washing JK's inaugural confetti out of their hair it was a hard sell to say the least.

But he made it, and Kerry deserves credit for making the effort.

If John Kerry has an Imperial Guard, it was Town Hall yesterday, these are his Spartans. They made something akin to 25,000 phone calls on his behalf to New Hampshire in 2004, they flooded the "Arc of Destiny" from Nashua to Manchester from November 2003 to November 2004...they got the vote out.

They have their bona fides and can rightly boast that they helped switch NH to the democrats in 2004.

Imagine what they can do in Massachusetts in 2006?

So hell yes, John Kerry came to say thank you...Napoleon kissed his Imperial Guardsmen, Kerry shook hands and listened to all comers. Deval Patrick was there as well, as was Mike Festa and (so I was told) Tim Murray. These are the people the candidates need to convince to win the primary and then go out and work like New York Cab Drivers in a blizzard.

Otherwise it was good to see JK Playing to the base, don't know what the plan is, but it is a wise move for him to get out there ad keep things agitated. As long as you don't act like you are beaten, then you ain't beat.

- posted by Elias @ 1:08 PM

[MH1]

13. I like this line

"As long as you don't act like you are beaten, then you ain't beat."

Damn straight!

[whometense]

14. Me too!

I loved that.

This guy is a true Boston blogger - he takes the same sort of tough love attitude towards the home team that most of the people I know take. It's a kind of "you'll be hearing from us if you screw up, but we'll get your back if any random asshole tries to take you down."

[TayTay]

15. Of course. Tough love it the way to go

They get the love cuz the friggin earned it. What's not to like?